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James Gardner Colins
2019 - Present
6
James Gardner Colins is a senior judge on the Pennsylvania Superior Court. He began serving in that position in January 2019.
Colins served on the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court from 1984 to 2008. He became a senior judge on the commonwealth court in 2012, serving until 2019.[1]
Colins was appointed, ultimately unsuccessfully, by Gov. Rendell to fill the vacancy on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court created by the resignation of Ralph Cappy.[2]
Education
Colins obtained a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He earned a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 1971.[1]
Career
- 2019-Present: Senior judge, Pennsylvania Superior Court
- 2012-2019: Senior judge, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
- 2008-2012: Member and shareholder, Cozen O'Connor
- 1984-2008: Judge, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
- 2002-2006: President judge
- 1994-1999: President judge
- 1980-1983: Judge, Municipal Court of Philadelphia
- 1975-1980: Private practice
- 1971-1975: Assistant district attorney, Philadelphia County[1]
Senate air doubts
Leaders in the Pennsylvania Senate (R-majority) voiced concerns over Governor Rendell's judicial nominees. They singled out Colins, Rendell's friend and Supreme Court nominee, for what they regarded as questionable objectivity in Commonwealth Court cases involving the Rendell administration. They were also concerned that this connection would force Colins to recuse himself from a number of Supreme Court cases. For his part, Supreme Court Justice Ronald Castille defended Colins, arguing "that there were only eight cases under the Supreme Court's review in which Colins participated as a member of a Commonwealth Court panel."[3]
External links
- Biography from the Pennsylvania Courts system
- Governor Rendell Announces Judicial Nominations for Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Courts
See also
Footnotes
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